Eleanor Bruening, 102, died March 7, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Ambassador Nursing Home in New Hope, Minnesota. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, March 11, 2010, at the First Baptist Church in Elkton, with interment in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Elkton. Visitations will be from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Eidsness-Zink Funeral Chapel in Elkton.

Eleanor (Bennett) Bruening was born October 19, 1907, to Reuben and Luella (Denton) Bennett at Arlington, South Dakota. She was the second born of four girls, Beatrice, Eleanor, Naomi and Thelma.

Eleanor attended country school at Windsor District No.18 near Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 1927. After graduation, Eleanor enrolled in a six-week teachers course in Sioux Falls to get her teaching certificate. One of the happiest times of her life was when she got word that she was to teach at her first school, Kingsbury County near Arlington. Her dream had begun and she taught school for nine years. In 1986, Eleanor was presented a Certificate of Recognition by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture in appreciation for service to the State of South Dakota as a teacher in a one-teacher country school, signed by Governor Janklow. She also received the State of South Dakota Rural Schoolteacher Award of Excellence in appreciation of outstanding service to students and the State of South Dakota.

On June 11, 1936, Eleanor was united in marriage to Albert Bruening in Redfield, South Dakota. The Bruenings lived their entire married life in Brookings County, farming in the White and Elkton communities. They raised one step-son, Leland, three sons Curtis, Gordon, Arnold and one daughter, Barbara. They retired in December of 1974 and moved to Elkton. Albert passed away February 11, 1976.

Eleanor accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and lived for Him. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Elkton and was active in many church activities throughout her life. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a charter member of various organizations in the White and Elkton area. She moved to Pierre in 2001 to be near her son and daughter. In 2009 she moved to New Hope, Minnesota. Eleanor enjoyed homemaking and gardening and especially loved tending her flowers. She loved reading her Bible, visiting with friends, playing Skipbo and spending time with family.

Eleanor is survived by two sons: Gordon (Marlene) Bruening of Elkton; Arnold Bruening of Plymouth, Minnesota; daughter, Barbara (Don) Rykhus of Plymouth, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Mavis Bruening of Ivanhoe, Minnesota; sister Thelma Jensen of Eugene, Oregon; seven grandchildren: Robert (Deena) Bruening, Tulare, SD; Denton (Mary Ann) Bruening of St. Paul, MN; Denette (Bill Lynch) Duluth, MN; Dealyn Rose, Marshall, MN; Tonya (Jeff Scott), Maple Grove, MN; Troy (Kimberly) Swift of Sioux Falls, SD; Tandi (Marc Hoffmann) Maple Grove, MN; eleven great-grandchildren: Craig and Bryan Bruening, Lauretta Bruening, Mike Halbur, Tanner and Taylie Scott, Logan and Anna Rose, Sierra, Jaxsyn and Shayda Swift; and two great-great-grandchildren. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert; stepson Leland; son Curtis; daughter-in-law, Wanda Bruening; granddaughter Linda Marshall; two sisters, Beatrice Bridgeman and Naomi Roebuck.

Eleanor loved to be on the go all the time. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but they are comforted by the love she left behind and knowing that she is rejoicing in the presence of the Lord. Her greatest desire was to have her friends and family know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.